Consolidation of Al/Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ thermite mixtures. [Al/Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/]

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5609319

Hammetter, W F

Stoichiometric mixtures of Al/Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ thermite were compacted in a range of pressures (to 281 MPa), temperatures (25/sup 0/ to 400/sup 0/C), and times (5 to 300 min) in order to obtain a map of compact density with respect to these variables and to elucidate the densification mechanism. Different sources of Al and Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ were used to study the effect of particle size distribution and morphology on the densification mechanism. In general, when coarse magnitite powder is used, densification is through plastic deformation of the aluminum particles up to a temperature dependent pressure above which work hardening limits further densification. Densification is enhanced at higher temperatures and by using large (30 to 50 ..mu..m) spherical aluminum powder particles. Densification of thermite mixtures with fine (< 5 ..mu..m) magnitite powder is temperature independent and is due to mechanical interlocking of the fine magnitite particles.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5609319
• Report Number(s): SAND-83-1684; ON: DE84002990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
&amp; National Defense-- Chemical Explosions &amp; Explosives
ALUMINIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPACTING
DENSITY
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FUELS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON ORES
IRON OXIDES
MAGNETITE
MATERIALS WORKING
METALS
MINERALS
MIXTURES
ORES
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXIDIZERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRESSING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS